Internet Traffic to Hit 10 Zettabytes in 2027 as Subsea Cables Still Carry 95%+
Updated
Updated · Progressive Policy Institute · Aug 19
Internet Traffic to Hit 10 Zettabytes in 2027 as Subsea Cables Still Carry 95%+
1 articles · Updated · Progressive Policy Institute · Aug 19
Summary
10 zettabytes of annual internet traffic is projected for 2027, up from 7.94 zettabytes in 2025 and 3.7 zettabytes in 2020, according to the Progressive Policy Institute.
95% to 99% of global data still moves through submarine fiber-optic cables, even after more than 10,000 satellite launches expanded coverage in remote areas.
694 submarine cables are now in service, and the Anjana cable due this fall is designed to carry 480 terabits per second—equal to about 7.5 billion simultaneous voice calls.
Video is the main driver of traffic growth: YouTube accounts for 13% of fiber-optic cable traffic, Netflix 10%, Facebook messaging 6%, and TikTok 4%.
6.1 billion people—about three-quarters of humanity—are online in 2026, while OECD/WTO research cited by PPI says open data flows with clear rules can add 1.8% to world GDP.